The Cayce readings make a simple and direct
entreaty to the one faced with the challenge of alcoholism: Choose
whether you will serve the Spirit of God or the Spirits Frumenti.
"The body does not desire nor hope to be ruled by someone
else, neither does it wish the spirit of corn or wine to rule,
but rather that indicated in Exodus 19:5 - 'If ye will be my people,
I will be your God.' " (3392-1)

Like all embodied humans, the alcohol-dependent
individual is meeting self. In his or her case, the confrontation
is in the form of the habits, desires, and attempts for gratification
through drink. The readings suggest that these appetites, though
always having physical components, have been built up in previous
lifetimes and carried into the present experience - not merely
as a punishment, but rather as a learning opportunity, as a chance
to understand self, and as a means for re-direction to the Divinity
within.

Choices are ever offered. The desire and the
will must be awakened to turn toward light and life and service
as ". . . there is brought the awareness of the fruits of
the spirit being made manifest in the material way and manner."
(1969-2)

The Curse and the Challenge

Alcoholism seems to be a perennial plague -
a common feature of all ages and times, all races and nations
with the exception of groups and religions in which abstinence
is mandated. Today, it is estimated that from two to five per
cent of Americans cannot control their consumption of alcoholic
beverages.

Modern medicine recognizes four factors as
contributing to dependence on alcohol: stress, personality, environment,
and the addictive nature of the substance. It is generally believed
that anyone, regardless of genetics, environment, or personality,
can become addicted to alcohol if he or she drinks heavily for
a prolonged period of time.

Treatment involves detoxification for acute
symptoms and long-term therapy to deal with the basic problem.
The latter regimen is largely focused on psychological measures,
such as group sessions, and support through Alcoholics Anonymous.
Physical interventions for the chronic alcoholic center on treatment
of specific associated illnesses, such as high blood pressure,
diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, and heart, blood, and liver
diseases, when they are diagnosed. Abstinence, a "well-rounded"
diet, and a daily multi-vitamin are recommended. In some instances,
the drug Antabuse® (disulfram), an alcohol antagonist, is
prescribed to deter the patient from returning to the bottle.

The complexity of the alcohol problem is immense.
It is not just a physical nor a mental nor a spiritual one. It
is all of these. It is not just a personal dilemma, but is usually
a family, social and community one. Further, it can produce financial
as well as medical crises. Finally, it is not just a temporal
trouble, but it is a trauma of the soul - one which follows the
self from lifetime to lifetime until it is overcome.

Standard medicine does not yet view alcoholism
from the karmic perspective. But, it does otherwise make relatively
holistic approaches to the problem by involving all manner of
medical and paramedical personnel in therapeutic efforts.

However, these measures still seem to barely
"scratch the surface" when compared to the broad and
incisive approach outlined in the Cayce readings. The readings
lay down physical, psychological, and pathological as well as
karmic bases of the illness. They also point to specific physical
remedies which may be of benefit for many alcohol-dependent individuals.
The readings further direct attention to environment, family support,
and prayer.

Yet, Cayce lays the burden of the work and
change in the hands of the one whose desires and appetites have
led him/her from the Spirit of God to the demon of rum or wine
or beer. "And if there is the DESIRE on the part of the entity,
the body, to rid self of the disturbances, this may be done -
provided the trust, the hope is put in the proper place; and then
worked at." (1427-1)

A Case of Desire

"DESIRE - DESIRE - DESIRE" is the
common refrain in the readings as Cayce seeks to point the alcoholic
in the direction of life and help. The "satisfying or gratifying
of appetites" (5075-1) capture the minds and bodies of millions
now as they did in Cayce's day and in centuries before. Yet, these
will ever remain unfulfilled. Only in Him - God, the Divine -
will desire meet satiety. "Sober in flesh, but drunk with
the Spirit" may be a reasonable metaphoric goal not only
for the alcoholic but for all of us who momentarily lose ourselves
in pursuit of one engulfing desire our another.

"As may be well gained by many, habit
and desires are akin. Habit, however, is a physical reaction to
the senses of the body, while desire is both mental, physical
AND spiritual, and when INORDINATE desire has been created by
the use of those forces that make for the activities in all the
sensory forces of the body, it becomes as the possession of those
forces from without and from within that create, without the cleansing
influence of the spiritual entering in from without, that which
is hard to cope with." (486-1)

Still, we must remember that the body is a
law unto itself and that which is sown in the body must be met
there as well. The craving - the INORDINATE DESIRE - is mental,
but not just mental.

"In most respects we find the body-physical
is very good, near to normal from outward appearance and from
activities within; yet there ARE evidences of a weakness in the
PHYSICAL body through the desire for GRATIFYING of appetite that
has blocked the will of the mental forces by gratifying of a physical
desire for the emotions of a mental and physical experience; thus
becoming a destructive influence to the physical and the mental
body. . . .Thus the craving, the gnawing in the gastric forces
of the digestive system - or the liver and heart activity in its
ganglia - makes for the INORDINATE DESIRE!" (1427-1)

Inordinate desire must give way to ordinary,
but keen, desire for healing and the daily determination to make
the body the temple it was meant to be. That body with its "built-in"
desires and cravings must be remodeled simultaneously from the
outside in and the inside out. "This may not be accomplished
until there is removed PHYSICALLY those pressures that cause the
inability of the system, between the nervous forces of the body,
to PREVENT the possession of the appetites seeking desire by influences
without as well as gratification within." (1439-1)

Causes

The readings are clear that the problem of
alcoholism is karmic, arising out of desires ungratified and appetites
unsatisfied in previous incarnations. Sowing and reaping from
moment to moment and lifetime to lifetime, we all meet ourselves
coming and going. Yet, a way out is ever prepared as we move from
desires of the flesh to the will of the Spirit in our lives. "For
what one sows that must one reap. This is unchangeable law. Know
that this law may be turned into law of grace and mercy by the
individual, through living and acting in their lives in relationships
to others." (5233-1)

Karmic forces, funneling into physical life
by way of the soul and the energy centers, draw specific challenges
into the human body. In the case of the alcoholic, psychic forces
usually focus through the solar plexus center and bring pressure
to bear where the cerebro

spinal and sympathetic nervous systems contact
each other in the region of the lower dorsal vertebrae (middle
back). "The effect upon the imaginative system goes to the
brain reflexes themselves, and at such periods of repression the
body is not the normal self." (3432-1)

Clearly, the whole being is involved in the
case of an alcohol-dependent man or woman. Alcoholism is so complex
and so hard to treat because of the broad multi-dimensional factors
which bring it into being.

"This is a PHYSICAL and not just a MENTAL
condition, see?"
(881-1) From the physical angle, the alcoholic undoubtedly has
significant lesions, impingements, or subluxations (generally
in the lower dorsal region) creating pressures upon internal organs
and helping to generate the INORDINATE DESIRE which is so common
to the condition. These lesions may arise from physical trauma,
glandular dysfunction, other internal disease and disorder, and/or
the after-effects of indulgence.

From the mental side, angers and resentments
can not only be a contributing factor in alcoholism but also a
source of real disease. "For anger can destroy the brain
as well as any disease. For it is itself a disease of the mind."
(3510-1)

Finally, environment is a large influence in
promoting and perpetuating the traits of the alcoholic personality.
That environment includes ready access to liquor, regular contact
with other drinkers, enabling friends and relatives, and an atmosphere
conducive to inebriation. ". . . with the associations, the
environ that offers the opportunity, these become impelling influences
as of a possession . . ." (2161-1)

Cures

PsychospiritualFirst things first: Changes can come
through physical remedies and external applications, but such
will be for naught if the person does not study to know self and
his or her relationships to God - the Creative Forces. ".
. . there must FIRST be the PURPOSING IN the mental forces of
the body sufficient to give the body THROUGH the applications
necessary the opportunity to bring about this change which will
enable the body to resist and to overcome those inclinations,
those tendencies, those appetites." (1753-1)

In effect, there must be an awakening - a turning
toward God - a discovery that the individual is of and a part
of Divinity. Without this, man remains lost. With this, all things
are possible. Alcoholics Anonymous suggests that the alcoholic's
new beginning requires surrendering to a Higher Power for direction
in his/her life. And Cayce says, "The startling thing to
every soul is to awaken to the realization that it is indeed a
child of God!" This is the new birth and breath for all -
alcoholic and otherwise. Toward achieving this end, the readings
often recommend particular Biblical passages as the source of
inspiration; those generally being Genesis 1:1-6, Exodus 19:5,
Deuteronomy 30, John 14 to 17, and the Romans 12.

The awakening and the turning toward an open-handed
Creator necessitates that a clear DESIRE be found or developed
within self. "As has been indicated, as has been given oft,
this may only come from within. And the DESIRE for help, the DESIRE
for aid must be within self." (845-4)

The alcohol-dependent person needs to give
up condemning self as well as others and seek to build - to be
constructive - to be a creative, beneficial force in his/her environment.
"Don't condemn self more than you would be condemned by thy
Maker. Don't pass over frailties of others because of strength
in self, but see thyself as thy abilities and the urges, and know
that in Creative Energies, in God, in Christ as God, ye may find
strength for the application of thy ideals." (5075-1)

The hoped-for goal and outcome of all of Cayce's
advice for the alcoholic may simply stand as ". . . be good
for something for OTHERS rather than [one's] own appetites. These
must be created first." (845-4)

Physical
The chief features of the physical component to treatment of alcoholism
include manipulative therapy, alcohol antagonists, the vibration
of gold, diet and supportive environment.

1) Osteopathic
adjustments are necessary to remove physical pressures which produce
or promote desires, cravings, and indulgences. These pressures
are generally, but not always, located in the region of the 7th
to the 11th dorsal vertebrae. Relaxing and coordinating treatments
are indicated.

2) An alcohol
antagonist such as disulfram or one suggested by the readings
may be useful ". . . to produce NAUSEA to an extent that
the body, when over STIMULATING self, will refrain from same."

3) The "Gold
Cure" may be helpful both to repel the alcoholic from drink
as well as build up the glandular and nervous systems. ".
. . we would begin taking a combination of the Chloride of Gold
Solution and Bicarbonate of Soda Solution . . . , for the correcting
of the impulses and the supplying of energies and elements as
may be best assimilated by the system from such." (2055-1)

4) Gold may be
added vibratorially to the body via the Wet Cell Appliance with
gold chloride in place of or in addition to Cayce's standard Gold
Cure. "Alcohol won't work with gold! This is the gold treatment,
but it builds the resistance!" (606-1)

5) The diets
recommended for alcoholics seeking the cure are quite variable.
Cayce, however, gives what may be considered as standard the suggestion
that ". . . there would be little of the foods that produce
alcohol in the system. These would be, then, the very natures
that contain little of the sugars, little of those that ferment
easily . . ." (1764-1)

6) An environment
which is conducive to sobriety, self-study, constructive activity,
and spiritual development is the final physical key to recovery.
"Let the body keep the surroundings such that will be in
keeping with those things that are DETERMINED within self . .
." (1106-1)

Social
Family and relatives, friends and neighbors play a VERY important
role in supporting the alcoholic in finding his/her way home.
Condemnation has no part in bringing the alcoholic to task. Rather,
compassion and forbearance must be out front in the lives of those
who would be of aid. "DO NOT - those, then, about the entity
- CONDEMN; lest a worse fate befall thee!" (1427-1)

The generally limited view of onlookers must
be transformed into the BIG PICTURE where the illness, pain, and
conflict of the alcoholic are concerned. With a wide-angled lens,
the seeming urgency of the situation to "do something"
may be turned into patience and quiet expectation.

Q. Is he making any progress?
A. As man seeth, no. As looked on from the experience
from the soul forces, yes. (845-4)

Prayer may be the greatest "deed"
which outsiders can contribute: "Why worry when you can pray?"
Prayer and meditation by those "near and dear to the body"
on behalf of the recovering alcoholic are encouraged again and
again as a powerful form of intercession. Done by a group or groups,
". . . the greater may be that directed influence towards
the activity of any soul, any mental being. . ." such that
". . . there may be brought an awakening within - in correcting
these conditions - and an awareness that there is a worth while
experience for self in the activities of the entity's manifestation
of life. . ." (496-1)

Promise of Healing

The call goes out not only to family and friends,
but also to the helping professionals to look for the light and
spirit hidden within the troubled soul. Let light call to light,
heart to heart, and spirit to spirit. "We would . . . attempt
to make better cooperation between the body and those making administrations.
Not by making promises of this or that but rather appealing to
the body through the better self, the innate, the spiritual, the
soul self." (3510-1)

The affected individual must eventually recognize
that help and healing are not far distant, but near at hand, for
". . . Lo, the spirit lies within thine own heart; thine
own body, thine own mind.... Know that the answer is deep in self
and no one else can know it for you." (3506-1)

The way to God and the rule of the Spirit stand
open even - and maybe especially to the man or woman who has wallowed
in the spirit of corn or of wine or of barley. "Do that,
then; relying upon those things that have been pointed out; that
the basis of all spiritual awakening, the promises of the better
and closer association with the divine are within self."
(1106-2)

Robert McNary, MD
Nevada City, CA
February 1995

Reprinted with permission of A.R.E.
and E.C.F.
This material was written for A.R.E. and appears in its circulating
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